I was wondering if there's any penalty for not paying the "fine". As far as I can find, the only thing that happens is there's an additional $25 surcharge added on. It's not a criminal violation. They can't report to the DPS to put it on one's driving record. They can't report to the insurance companies.

It looks like the worst thing is that they can turn it over to a collections agency where they can add-on some more fees and surcharges.

The only thing I would be worried about would be that the collection agency could file suit.

How about when they issue a warrant for your arrest for unpaid tickets? The next time you get stopped, the LEO runs your ID and the warrant comes up. You get arrested. Then you lose the CHL. Just pay the ticket, and the problem goes away.

At least that's what I'd be worried about.

"Give me Liberty, or I'll get up and get it myself." — Hookalakah Meshobbab"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." — H. L. Mencken"A ragamuffin knows he’s only a beggar at the door of God’s mercy." — The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning

Cameras are a civil deal. At least around these parts. I would call them and have them prove that it was you driving.

I think it's stupid to have a camera writing a civil "citation" for a criminal act. There is no due process...

They even send them to LE agencies if patrol car blows a light, even if running code.

I heard a story of a guy getting a picture of his car going through a red light, and demanding a fine. So, our hero takes the fine amount ($75 iirc) and lays it out on the table. Snaps a picture, and sends in a picture of the fine.

The fine company sent back a picture of handcuffs.

Obviously it's a fake story, but I find it hilarious. In a neighboring city, the population voted and had the red light cameras pulled down. I do think they make it safer, and reduce crashes, however there are a number of issues to iron out.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

gigag04 wrote:I heard a story of a guy getting a picture of his car going through a red light, and demanding a fine. So, our hero takes the fine amount ($75 iirc) and lays it out on the table. Snaps a picture, and sends in a picture of the fine.

The fine company sent back a picture of handcuffs.

Obviously it's a fake story, but I find it hilarious. In a neighboring city, the population voted and had the red light cameras pulled down. I do think they make it safer, and reduce crashes, however there are a number of issues to iron out.

gigag04 wrote:I heard a story of a guy getting a picture of his car going through a red light, and demanding a fine. So, our hero takes the fine amount ($75 iirc) and lays it out on the table. Snaps a picture, and sends in a picture of the fine.

The fine company sent back a picture of handcuffs.

Obviously it's a fake story, but I find it hilarious. In a neighboring city, the population voted and had the red light cameras pulled down. I do think they make it safer, and reduce crashes, however there are a number of issues to iron out.

Sec. 707.007. AMOUNT OF CIVIL PENALTY; LATE PAYMENT PENALTY. If a local authority enacts an ordinance to enforce compliance with the instructions of a traffic-control signal by the imposition of a civil or administrative penalty, the amount of:

Sec. 707.017. ENFORCEMENT. If the owner of a motor vehicle is delinquent in the payment of a civil penalty imposed under this chapter, the county assessor-collector or the Texas Department of Transportation may refuse to register a motor vehicle alleged to have been involved in the violation.

As much as it ticks me off to see people run red lights, these cameras are not the answer.And I don't think posting a patrol car on every corner is the answer either.

Personally, I'd rather those photos were sent to local LE. Then have a uniform LEO in a marked car (with lights running?) knock on their door and hold a prayer meeting with the culprit right there on the front porch, while the neighbors watch through their curtains.

I bet that would result in real behavior modification.

Next, we can work on "Rolling stop signs" and "Cutting through parking lots"

------------------"A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." --Bertrand de Jouvenel (1903-1987)

I heard an interview with a Texas legislator recently talking about that. Apparently, they passed some legislation regulating it or at least tried to. It is a civil penalty, but I think they also put in some regulations on where they can put and requiring a traffic study be done first. I think it was geared toward preventing it from being used as a revenue stream. I think it also addressed keeping yellow light times based on state standards and such also.

My wife had a couple last year and didn't pay. It said the county would hold up the registration of the vehicle... it didn't. Haven't heard anything else on it. BTW, the van is registered in my name not hers, so if they come after me, how does that wash with innocent until proven guilty? I wasn't driving.

A lawyer in FW was pursuing a court order to stop them because the company that monitors the cameras is in AZ and they do not have a license to investigate in the state of TX, therefore they have not legal right to come after squat. I'm curious how thats going.